Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
brown paper packages tied up with strings,
these are a few of my favorite things.
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels,
door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles.
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings.
these are a few of my favorite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
silver white winters that melt into springs,
these are a few of my favorite things.
When the dog bites, when the bee stings,
when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
and then I don't feel so bad.
A few of my recent favorite pictures...
Where to begin catch up? I have so many thoughts bouncing around my head that it's almost confusing.
First, my brother is about to be start his second deployment. Iraq last time, Afghanistan this time. The reality is harsh. Hope seems unattainable. I am so thankful however that we know the Creator of hope who is the definition of hope. We'll get to spend some time with my brother over Christmas and we are all absolutely looking forward to it.
Can I please just be honest and say that I love The Biggest Loser. Television these days is too often so negative. To me The Biggest Loser is a reality show of redemption. I love watching the people on it fight their way to a "second chance" at life. I watched a DVRed episode of it this morning and cried my eyes out the whole time. They were running a marathon and facing all that a 26.2 mile run entails. T-Pup said "Momma I don't want to run like that!" and I couldn't help but laugh.
I'm such a practical person. It doesn't take much for me to start weeping at the goodness of God. I tend to see Him in the (seemingly) small, mundane things of life. A few weeks ago W wrote a paper for one of his classes that included a section on creation. He quoted the verse Romans 8:19. The ministry we worked with our first year of marriage used this verse frequently. I don't think I ever really understood it until W used it in his paper. It's so easy to see God in the simple things in life because creation WAITS to reveal it. Creation is here to reveal His glory. When I look out over our pasture and see the baby calves nursing I almost always tear up. When I see those same calves bucking their heads up and hitting their mama, I tear up. I've been that nursing mama and when the baby yanks or jerks, UM YES, it hurts. But that mama cow is always so patient to stand there and nurture that child, no matter the what. Creation reveals His glory.
Autumn leaves are now mostly gone. Did you know the true color of the tree's leaves come out when the chlorophyll is no longer produced and the leaves begin to fall? The true color of the leaf comes out only in its death. Creation reveals His glory.
I don't know these folks on The Biggest Loser, but I pray as they are transformed that their spirits will be also. I don't know how you can experience a "second chance" at life and not fall at the feet of Jesus with gratitude.
God longs to transform us into His image. And for that I am so grateful, because I know I NEED IT.
With all of that said.
Amen.
:)
We had a cold rainy day here today. I was feeling tired (Sam was up 2am-5:15) so I let the children take the reign on what to do. They pulled all of my pots and pans out in the kitchen and filled a bowl with water. Needless to say it eventually "flooded" (T-Pup's words, not mine!). I just rolled with it. When wet get in the bath, right? So they continued in water play for a while.
They are both at such precious points right now. Sam has finally gotten a good vocabulary and is quite opinionated. T-Pup is really starting to think about things we say to him, ie "Jesus is going to help me pick up my toys so I can wait to do it." He is also starting to process those decisions he makes and possibly (?) close to understanding consequences.
W has another two weeks of class before Christmas break, with a lot of work to do before then, but we are on the countdown.
After my tooth escapade this fall (which, for the record, we now have dental insurance!!) I decided to volunteer for a free dental day that a local dentist (who W grew up with) is doing in a few weeks. I've enjoyed doing a bit of fund raising and spreading the word about the day. I'm thankful we were able to pay for my tooth drama, but I know so many are not able to. It's encouraging to know people who want to serve others. Ahem, creation revealing His glory :)
Well, it is now 4:14am and I have yet to sleep tonight. Yawn. I will feel the ramifications of this tomorrow, but believe me, I DID NOT VOLUNTEER FOR THIS ALL NIGHTER! Sinus stuff + lack of my sleeping medicine + a full mind = me awake at all crazy hours of the night. And did you catch where I said I was up with Sam last night? I'm thinking today will be a long day.
Well... a wordy post was due :)
Encourage someone today. Reveal His glory.
This my friends is a little preview for our Christmas card. I thought we'd head to the church, snap a few pictures, smile the whole time and voila. Not so much. We were able to catch a few good shots, thus the cards have been made and are already in the mail to us. Bless you Shutterfly for making my life easy!
More updates about our life coming soon, I promise!
I'm not feeling very bloggity lately. (Random thought: anyone remember the old song "I like the way you work it... no biggity... I like to bag it up?" Bloggity made me think of 'biggity.' Thanks for putting up with my randomness.)
I must confess I am counting down the days to Thanksgiving. W is out of school the whole week, and we are taking a trip to a place called Heaven on Earth, NC. Also known as W's Aunt's mountain house. We'll be there with his whole family. We go every other year and I have come to absolutely love it. That means that this semester is close to being over which possibly excites me more than my husband. That also means that he is completely up to his height in work to be done in a short amount of time.
Have I mentioned my husband is completely awesome? He handles everything he does with such grace. He rocks.
I also must confess I am so incredibly super excited about meeting THE Pioneer Woman next month. I know she is wonderful and lovely and a bag of chips... but I am really looking forward to having a special girl's night out to go meet her. Fellowship, food, and an amazing cookbook author = sounds like a plan to me.
I'm out of little tidbits to talk about I think. I'm praying for God's peace tonight. I worry way too much. I am trying to remind myself to lay everything, no matter what, at the cross. Especially with my family and the world we live in. I would so much rather be in God's hands than be in control myself, yet I find myself trying to control so many things. I pray that His peace which surpasses all understanding would guard my heart and mind. I desire the joy of the Lord.
Thanks for reading :o) And how about a big 'ole PRAISE GOD that Stellan's ablation was successful!
Week before last, our little family took a quick trip to St. Louis, MO to see some precious friends of ours.
We had an awesome time. Thursday night we hung out with them at home, then Friday when the girls were in school, S took us to an amazing place called The Magic House. The kids LOVED it. There were countless activities for them to do, and quite frankly, mom and dad had a blast too.
W and I both forgot our cameras (err!) but did have the trusty iPhones. These were taken at the water works and also at the water organ. W got some cool video on his phone too.
After our outing, I had my very first Red Robin (ummmm!) experience. I had some type of BBQ wrap that was amazing. That night, we all went out to eat together at this little pizza joint called Dewey's Pizza. It was the freshest tasting pizza I've ever had in my life. We had the Bronx Bomber which is likened to a supreme pizza. The bell peppers, onions, and sausage were to die for.
The next morning we had to leave (I mentioned it was a quick trip, right?) so we naturally went to the Arch. Wow. It was so beautiful. I never would have imagined it to be so big, but indeed it is.
We had an awesome time with an awesome family. We miss them so much already!
I have been awful about updating lately; consequently, this will be a smorkus board of random thoughts. I even told myself that I would not in fact blog today for my to-do list is as long as the Autobahn. I began to get my ironing pile ready when I heard T-Pup jump from an unknown location to his bed. I then grabbed the laptop and now am monitoring his kangaroo tendancies while I update the blog.
Where to start? Ah, yes... Dental Drama.
About two years ago I had a root canal done. I went into the office all but kicking and screaming saying "just don't say root canal." For one reason or six, I never had the tooth crowned. So about six weeks ago I find myself with excruciating pain. I hypnotize myself back to the doorway of dentistry doom and go figure, the root canal tooth. I was so much in denial that I started laughing hysterically, but I think Dr. Dentist thought I was crying because he handed me a tissue and patted my shoulder.
I then went to Dr. Dandy Dentist (better known as the Endodontist) who said only after a course in Endodontics 101 that I did in fact need re-treatment.
I then went to the waiting room and curled up in the fetal position and cried "why me?" for approximately 3 minutes. Just kidding. Maybe.
So the next week I go back to Dr. Dandy Dentist and darling dental assistant encouraged me and even patted my shoulder during the shots. Then I met my true love who shall be known Mr. Nitris (also known as Mr. Nose). Where has he been my whole life? Why couldn't I have him during childbirth? Or family gatherings?
Turns out because of Mr. Nitris, darling dental assistant, Dr. Dandy Dentist and plenty of grace from God the 3 hour procedure all but flew by. And they even gave me coconut lip balm.
The next week I go back to Dr. Dentist for the crown-frown process. I just feel to young to have this done. They all but erase my tooth then put some temporary crown resembling a chicklet over my tooth and tell me to come back in a few weeks to have the permanent one put on. Turns out I went back the next day because said chicklet came off while I was having my morning cup of get me going coffee.
The next one they put on came off last week while I was eating pumpkin bread. So, I frantically borrowed a tube of Fixadent from W's grandmother and squished the thing back on. Um, eww. Will I borrow her Preparation H next?
I refuse to go back until my permanent is in. Sadly this means I haven't had a piece of gum in six weeks and my mental age has gone from late twenties to early sixties.
And we have invested approximately 23% of our children's college fund into ONE tooth. Here's to hoping for scholarships.
The End of Dental Drama.
Since that took so much effort I guess I'll save the rest for another day or possibly month.
*Updated to add IT.IS.FINISHED. Dr. Dentist called me yesterday and had the permanent crown. I am amazed. And possibly not hating dentistry as much now... possibly...
Squeezeee!
Help!
Mom?!
Ok... Deal!
